French Huguenot influence on Boer-Afrikaner culture
With this post we will begin a series of posts about the influence that several people and cultures had in the Boere-Afrikaners helping to create our people and our culture. In this post we will…
SA History
German influence on Boer-Afrikaner people
After in the first post of these series we had explain the influence of French Huguenot people in the Boer-Afrikaner culture in this post we will explain the influence of another people that influenced a…
Difaqane / Mfecane Wars – 1818-1835
This period of revolutionary change–known as the mfecane (“Crushing” or “hammering”) by the Zulu and the difaqane (“The Crushing”) by the Sotho–is also often referred to as “the time of troubles”. The Difaqane/Mfecane was a…
The Zulu kingdom and the colony of Natal
Indentured Indians arriving in Colonial Natal. Image source: www.scnc.ukzn.ac.za The need for a controlled labour force: Indentured Labourers South Africans of Indian origin comprise a diverse community distinguished by different origins, languages, and religious…
Co-Operation and Conflict on the Highveld
Moshoeshoe moves to Thaba Bosiu The 1820s and 1830s were a time of great upheaval. There were many wars about land which caused thousands of people to flee to other parts of the country. For…
Britain takes control of the Cape
Britain takes control of the Cape The arrival of the British at the Cape changed the lives of the people that were already living there. Initially British control was aimed to protect the trade route…
Popular struggles in the early years of Apartheid, 1948-1960
Historians recognise the significance of popular struggles over the past 100 years. But debates among historians about their relationship to formal political formations continue to rage. In light of the upcoming centenary celebrations of the…
Apartheid and reactions to it
The architects of Apartheid. © Apartheid Museum Archive. In 1948, the National Party (NP), representing Afrikaners, won the national election on a platform of racism and segregation under the slogan of ‘apartheid’. Apartheid built upon…
The people armed, 1984-1990
Introduction 1985, Desmond Tutu, armed only with the bible under his arm, confronts the SA forces during their attempts to break up a demonstration. Photograph by Shadrack Nkomo © Bailey’s African History Archive. Numerous factors…
The Liberation Struggle in South Africa
1960-1994: Armed Struggle and Popular Resistance 1984-1990:- The people armed Introduction 1985, Desmond Tutu, armed only with the bible under his arm, confronts the SA forces during their attempts to break up a demonstration….